Reach-bar for vehicles



(No Model.)

H. M. HUGHES.

REACH BAR FOR VEHICLES.

No. 388,363. Patented Aug. 21,1888.

WITNESSES IJVVEJVTOR,

N. PETERS, Phmv-w g phun'wuhingxm D4 C.

Farce.

ATEN'I HENRY M. HUGHES, OF ELDON, IOWA.

REACH-BAR FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,363, dated August 21, 1888.

Application filed May 3, 1888. Serial No. 272.619. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY M. HUGHEs, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Eldon, in the county of Wapello and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements'in Reach-Bars for Vehicles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Myinvention relates to certain new and usefnl improvements in reach-bars for vehicles; and it consistsin the special construction and combination of the parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a reach-bar constructed in accordance with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a side view. Fig. 3 is a View taken through the line x :0 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view.

A refers to that part of a reach-bar which is attached to the hind axle of a vehicle, the same being provided with a bar, B, having a series of perforations, b b. To the under side of the front end of the bar B is rigidly secured, by bolts 0 c, a strap or clip, 0, the ends of which extend laterally beyond the bar B, and are then turned upwardly and inwardly, as fully shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, so that said strap will embrace the front portion, D, of the adjustable reach.

The portion D, hereinbefore referred to, is made of metal, the front part thereof having an eye, E, formed therein, with which the kingbolt of the vehicle is adapted to engage. The inner sides thereof are adapted to snugly embrace the bar B and slide thereon, the sidesF being connected to each other by a transverse strap, f, which is provided centrally with a perforation, 6, through which a bolt, G, passes for connecting the same rigidly to the bar B.

To the sides of the members F F are secured metallic straps H H, which are adapted to be passed through the upwardly and inturned ends of the transverse strap 0, so as to permit the parts D and B to be adjusted longitudinally upon each other, and when properly adjusted are secured rigidly by a bolt, G.

In use, when the parts are coupled together there is an upward strain of the rear end of the portion D of the reach-bar, which is met and resisted bythe transverse barf, formed on the under side of the rear end of the portion D, and there is a corresponding upward pressure of the front end of the bar B,which is met and resisted by the strap 0.

The reach-bar hereinbefore described is sinr ple and is not liable to get out of order, and does not increase the vertical thickness of the reach-bar, which adapts its application to many different styles of wagons without changing of parts.

The metallic side pieces, F F, which snugly embrace the vertical edges of the bar B, will prevent the same splitting.

I am aware that prior to my invention it has been proposed to provide a vehicle with reachbarswhich could be adj ustcd longitudinally, and I do not claim such, broadly; but

l/VhatIclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, in a reach-bar for vehicles, of a bar, B, provided with a longitudinal seriesof perforations, and at its front end with a transverse strap rigidly secured thereto, the ends thereof projecting beyond the vertical edges and bent upwardly and turned inward,

as shown, the adjustable portion D having side pieces which embrace the vertical edges of the bar B, straps H, formed on or secured to the outer edges thereof to engage with the upwardly and inwardly turned ends of the strap 0, the rear ends of the side pieces being con nected to each other, said connecting portion being provided with a central perforatiomand a bolt for connecting the parts adj ustably to each other, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY M. HUGHES.

Wi tn esses:

J. E. HOUGHLAND, E. S. ROLAND. 

